SoulAssassin your not the first to state that! Everone has to think I'm 42 and don't need my battery to play my music.... listen to talk radio I just want a battery that will not let me down in cold Wisconsin weather for 6 to 7 years like the factory battery did.

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I don't know why so many are bashing Optimas, I think it's just 'popular' to do so now by people that wouldn't be spending more than $100 on a battery anyway.

My redtop lasted 3 years in S. Florida and died right after my accident. I think it was due to it, but the insurance company said it wasn't...picked up a 75/25 yellow top this time.

It's not bashing. When Johnson Controls bought them a few years back they went to shit. People across the internet are reporting premature failures. Plus, iirc, the Optimas are an 18 mo warranty and the Die Hards are 36.

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I heard something about the newer optimas that i don't know if it's true or not. If the battery dies you can't just jump start it. You have to trickle charge the battery and it's fine again. Strange but that's what i heard. When I lived in Idaho, I had the Duralast gold battery in my truck and car. Never had a problem in the 7 years i had it.

DieHards are what i have been using. they have a great pro-rated warranty, even after 3 or 4 years you can usually get a little money out of it. I live in the UP of michigan and experence similar weather to northern wisconson. wolverine batteries are also very good, but I don't know if they are a national brand, they are more of an industrial battery supplier

Originally posted by: zerocool84
My Duralast red top is doing fine after 2 years. My stock one went to crap a little over a year after I bought the car new. It hasn't failed me yet.

Duralast is on my short list I'm looking at the gold though. SoulAssassin that is what I have been reading on a lot of the truck forums I've been reading.

So short list as it stands is
Duralast Gold
Motorcraft (current one is 6yrs and still working)
DieHard Platinum

Thanks for all your input guys I don't think I can go wrong with any of them. With my truck being 6.5yrs old I wanted to change it out before winter hits.

Quote:

Most auto batteries are made by just three manufacturers, Delphi, Exide, and Johnson Controls Industries. Each makes batteries sold under several different brand names. Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.

Originally posted by: Elstupido
Get the highest cold cranking amps ratings battery you can find. I have had good luck with Interstate and Costco Kirkland batteries.

I agree, you defintly want a battery that has high cold cranking amps rating. When I had my truck, the new battery I put in it. It had around 900 some cold cranking amps. Never had a problem with it starting in the middle of winter.

Most auto batteries are made by just three manufacturers, Delphi, Exide, and Johnson Controls Industries. Each makes batteries sold under several different brand names. Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.

...so it looks like your list is Johnson Controls batteries.

The Die Hard -Platinums- are not made by Johnson Controls.

FWIW, and before someone thinks I am pimping Die Hard, I actually run a Deka Intimidator in my Wrangler which sees some pretty serious offroad usage. Only had it ~6 months but no complaints. Powered the stereo and a blender for hours on the beach in the Outer Banks a few weeks back. I run a small compressor off it (with engine off) for airing up my tires all the time.